QWER Light Stick conflict sparks growing tension between K-pop fandoms and their agencies. THE BOYZ fans demand changes and legal measures while QWER insists on originality. The upcoming Seoul festival may decide the conflict’s direction.
Design Similarities Spark Fan Debate
The rivalry between THE BOYZ and QWER fandoms escalated after the debut of QWER’s official Light Stick. Its megaphone shape drew immediate comparisons to THE BOYZ’s Light Stick, released in 2021. What began as design chatter quickly turned into a heated fan debate, amplified on forums and social media platforms.
One Hundred Label Delivers Official Response
On September 25, THE BOYZ agency One Hundred Label issued a formal statement. The company said it understood fans’ frustration over the design overlap. They revealed ongoing discussions with QWER’s management, where they requested design changes but failed to reach any agreement. One Hundred Label also apologized for the delay and promised to pursue strict measures, including legal action, to prevent similar cases in the future.
QWER Makes the Light Stick a Symbol of Conflict
QWER’s agencies, 3Y CORPORATION and Prismfilter, responded strongly. They expressed regret that legal threats suddenly emerged during what they described as constructive talks. They stressed that QWER’s Light Stick contained no copyright violations, citing several legal reviews by attorneys. Each review confirmed no infringement existed. Their statement reframed the Light Stick as a point of pride, which, in turn, intensified the conflict with rival fandoms.
Fans Trade Accusations and Legal Threats
The fan debate grew even sharper when THE BOYZ supporters accused QWER of plagiarizing a registered design. They argued the resemblance was undeniable. QWER’s fandom countered that a megaphone is a universal symbol and cannot belong exclusively to one group. As the conflict deepened, fans exchanged insults and dragged unrelated controversies into the fight. QWER eventually filed criminal complaints against malicious posts targeting their artists.
QWER Positions the Light Stick at the Heart of Conflict
Online communities like MLBPARK quickly became arenas for the Light Stick debate. Many commenters argued QWER stood on firm legal ground, thanks to repeated reviews. They believed QWER had little to lose even if the dispute reached the courts. Others disagreed, criticizing 3Y CORPORATION’s tough stance. They warned that idol conflicts rarely end with legal resolutions, since fan behavior often defies reason. Still, the Light Stick remained central to QWER’s identity, especially with their world tour approaching.
QWER Casts the Light Stick as Evidence in the Conflict
Truck protests organized by THE BOYZ fandom pressured One Hundred Label into adopting a harder stance. The agency, heavily tied to THE BOYZ, found itself unable to ignore the demands of its core fanbase. Meanwhile, QWER faced a practical dilemma. Thousands of Light Sticks had already been produced, and the megaphone shape symbolized their hit track T.B.H. With both groups sharing the stage at a Seoul festival on September 28, the upcoming performance may become a decisive moment. Observers believe fan reactions that day will influence the next stage of this conflict.
The QWER Light Stick conflict escalated because fans of THE BOYZ claimed plagiarism, agencies exchanged legal threats, and QWER refused to abandon a design tied to their music identity.
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OMG, so the QWER lightstick drama is actually going to court?? 🤯
It looks SO similar to THE BOYZ’s lightstick. I wonder if QWER can definitely win that lawsuit? 🤔
A settlement would be ideal, but it’s looking pretty unlikely now, sigh. 😩